Mark 1:16-18 ESV — Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

As I shared earlier in the week, Aunt Clefa taught me how to bait a hook with a worm, how to sit quietly and patiently wait for the red and white float to bob up and down, and when to know just the right moment to pull up my Bream Buster pole and bring in my fish.

I encourage you to spend some time today examining how you are fishing for men. Take lessons from Aunt Clefa.  

1. Bait the hook. Intentionally plan ways you can be a witness to others. Spend time thinking about your faith journey and how your experiences may relate to others. How can your story point others to Christ? What can you say or do to make others want to learn more about your Savior?
2. Sit quietly and be patient. Sometimes the most important part of fishing for men is sitting quietly and patiently. Listen and observe others. What are their struggles? How do they respond to the circumstances of life? By looking and listening you may realize a connection that can be a point of entry to talk about Christ. Use your connections to witness and share the love of Jesus.
3. Wait for the right moment to bring in your fish for Christ. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to when is the right moment and what are the right words to witness to others. When we are open to His guidance He will open opportunities and lead us through unbelievable ways as we fish for Him. God’s timing is perfect.

The time is now. It’s fishing season and the fish are biting. Jesus is on the shore calling you and I to follow Him. Let’s go fishing!

Pray with me. Dear God, thank You for trusting me to fish for You. Open my eyes to ways to be an effective fisher of men. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV — Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Place yourself in the shoes of the disciples at the time of today’s featured scripture. A whirlwind of events has just taken place. Jesus was arrested, tortured, crucified and died. Today’s scripture takes place just after the discovery that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb and the claims that He has risen from the dead. I imagine at this point the disciples are in such shock from the rollercoaster of emotions and events that they are just going through the motions trying to put one foot in front of the other. They recalled that Jesus had told them to go to Galilee and so they did. There, Jesus appeared. Imagine their surprise and awe in the moment. Jesus doesn’t make small talk. He cuts to the chase. 

This scripture is called “The Great Commission.” In this passage Jesus gives a directive and a mission for the disciples and for us. You and I are called to make disciples. We are called to be fishers of men. How have you responded to your commission? How do you make disciples? How do you fish for men?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for trusting me to fish for You. Open my eyes to ways to be an effective fisher of men. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Click here to watch today’s video.

Matthew 4:21-22 ESV — And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Dad and Aunt Clefa went fishing every Thursday. Dad also picked us up from school every afternoon since mom worked at a bank in town and he had a more flexible schedule. However, every now and then on a Thursday, all the other kids would be picked up and my brother and I were left sitting and waiting at school. Dad and Aunt Clefa would finally drive up in a rush apologizing for being late and claiming the fish were biting and time got away from them. On Thursdays, they were living in the moment and at the moment, fishing was their most important focus.

Jesus calls you and I to also make fishing our most important focus. However, He wants us to fish for men every day, not just on Thursdays. Read today’s featured scripture again. When Jesus called James and John to follow Him, “immediately they left the boat and their father” to follow Him. The scripture does not indicate any hesitation. They seized the moment and their fishing focus changed from fish to men. 

Are your eyes and ears always open to ways to fish for Christ? How do you intentionally look for and plan for being a fisher of men? Is your fishing gear packed and ready to go? Is fishing for Jesus your most important focus?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for trusting me to fish for You. Open my eyes to ways to be an effective fisher of men. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Matthew 4:18-20 ESV — While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

A few weeks ago I shared memories with you about my childhood and a man named Archie in our church whobecame like family. We called him Uncle Archie. Another lady in the same church who we grew close to was Clefa, aka Aunt Clefa. Aunt Clefa’s personality was as unique as her name. She had a high pitched voice and due to her osteoporosis walked bent over. She had a standing hair appointment each Wednesday to dye her natural hair black and have a hair piece put on in the shape of a beehive. Aunt Clefa retired from a local plant and became my parents’ go-to babysitter for my brother and I. She and my dad shared a love for fishing. They began a routine of going fishing every Thursday on my dad’s day off and occasionally my brother and I were blessed by joining them. Aunt Clefa taught me how to bait a hook with a worm, how to sit quietly and patiently wait for the red and white float to bob up and down, and when to know just the right moment to pull up my Bream Buster pole and bring in my fish. While Aunt Clefa taught me a lot about fishing, Jesus has taught me even more.

Jesus calls you and I to be fishers of men. What does that mean to you? How do you fish for men? 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for trusting me to fish for You. Open my eyes to ways to be an effective fisher of men. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Matthew 4:18-20 ESV — While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

Matthew 4:21-22 ESV — And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV — Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 1:16-18 ESV — Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

@biblegateway @youversion

This week’s theme is fishing. I have found some oldies but goodies to share with you. Take some time to listen and pray about our week ahead.

Pray For the Fish by Randy Travis

Down To the River To Pray by Alison Krauss

I shared a few weeks ago that this summer I have enjoyed growing vegetables in my two raised beds. I have also taken delight in developing a vibrant flower garden outside our sun room. This week as I was harvesting vegetables and flowers, I realized the containers I was using hold special memories for me. Today I am savoring these special memories.

Today’s picture shows a colorful bowl holding green peppers. That bowl belonged to my grandmother. I don’t remember what exactly she used the bowl for, but I do remember seeing it in her kitchen when I was a child. We affectionately called my grandmother, Mother. Mother was very dear to me. I remember a few summers, as a child, I was privileged enough to go spend a few days or week with her by myself. Mother taught me to drink coffee, to love reading, and to embrace showing love through cooking and caring for others. In the last couple years of her life we were blessed to have her move in and live with us.

The white dish holding tomatoes and the glass vase holding flowers were both wedding gifts. This past June, Clark and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary. I do not recall who gave us the dish or vase, but they remind me of the love we felt as we were surrounded and supported on our wedding day. It rained the morning of June 7, 1997. Thankfully, hours before our wedding, the rain ceased and the temperature fell. I recall it being one of the coldest days I have experienced in June, but in my mind it was also a beautiful, perfect day. 

I share this as a reflection on this week’s Thankful Thursday post. I shared with you a quote made by Tara Leigh-Cobble from the Bible Recap. She said, “Trusting God means we live in contentment now.” I encouraged you to be aware that even when we are in the valley, we should find peace and joy in the moments we walk through. Using items that trigger sweet memories is one way to find peace and joy in hard times. What items do you have that trigger memories that you savor? How can savoring memories help you in hard seasons?